Friday, August 5, 2011

Jet of the Day: Laura Stamper: Tutorial- Applying Gold to Your Pieces




Here is my tutorial for a simple way to add high carat gold to your pieces.  This is so easy, a monkey could do it!!

You will need:
  • paint brushes
  • gold leaf lacquer
  • 23 k gold leaf
  • lacquer thinner
  • sealant

1.)Prepare the piece.  Make sure it is clean and dry.  (This ring was polished to a mirror finish and then treated with an application of liver of sulfur followed by a baking soda  bath.)


2.) Apply a thin coat of lacquer where you want the gold to adhere..  I like a soft brush for this.  Clean your brush with lacquer thinner when you are done and let the lacquer dry until tacky.  This can take 1-3 hours.  Applying the gold too soon will  create and uneven and bubbled appearance.




3.) Tear off the size of gold leaf to apply, keeping it between the protective tissues.   The gold leaf is very thin and can stick to scissors or you fingers and a breath can blow it away!



4.) After removing one side of the protective tissue, place the gold leaf with on your item.
 
5.) Tamp the leaf onto the lacquered piece using a stiff brush. Keep the tissue in place while you do this.



 6.)  Gently brush off excess gold.  Save excess gold as you can reuse it.

7.) Seal with lacquer sealant.





Voila:
 


Thank you for reading!

13 comments :

Beadsme said...

Excellent post. I would be so scared using gold. Good one.

Erika Price said...

Looks great! Up to now I've been using ArtClay Gold Paste, but your method might be less expensive (just call me Monkey!)

Mollie Ann said...

Another monkey here ... but you've made it look so easy I'm tempted to try. And what a totally gorgeous ring!

Made By Tammy said...

Stunning ring! Thank you so much for the tutorial. I'll have to give that a try - you made it look so easy!

Crystal Impressions said...

love the ring...but i agree....another monkey here....lol...it does look simple tho....

YourDailyJewelsBLOG said...

ooo-oo-oo-ah-ah-ah
Come on, that was my monkey imitation!
I am going to follow this tutorial. So far, this monkey has made some very lumpy gold leaf stuff and can use proper instruction.
Thank you Laura!

WanderingJewel said...

Great job on the tutorial, I might just have to give this a go!

SatinDollCo said...

Great tutorial and gorgeous ring!

Brooke said...

Great tutorial Laura, thank you!

Unknown said...

Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge!

marciejanedesigns said...

Cool stuff Laura, thanks for the info!

jemsbyjb said...

Wonderful tutorial. Love the uniqueness of the designs here.

cooljewelrydesign said...

This monkey is in awe of how you added yet another dimension to an already exquisite ring. Bravo! And thanks for sharing, Laura.